Date and time: Thursday 16^th February 2012, 12pm- 3pm 

Location:  John Moulton Hall, Penhill Drive, Swindon, SN2 5DU

Cash extorted by convicted loan sharks is to be ploughed back into communities, in whichever way Swindon residents see fit.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team, are working with in partnership with Swindon Borough Council to host the ‘U Choose’ initiative which allows residents to choose which local projects will be funded through proceeds of crime money.

Over the past weeks, local groups have been bidding for the proceeds of crime money to spend on improving their community.

The bidders will have an opportunity to showcase their ideas, to an audience of Penhill, Upper Stratton, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst residents at the event on the 16^th February. Residents will then vote for the ideas they would most like to see implemented with the winners being awarded the cash during a ceremony at the end of the day.

The Team aim to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible using £2000, taken from illegal money lenders through the courts.

Organisations, groups and individuals who have already placed a bid include St Peters Friday Club who want to host a talk on finances with a guest speaker aimed at elderly members, Pinehurst Rangers FC who want to buy new kits with the hotline number for reporting loan sharks and Positive Futures who want to record a piece of music and create a mural on the dangers of illegal money lending.

Representatives from the Team and other agencies will be speaking to local people during the day, warning them of the dangers of becoming involved with illegal money lenders. Clivey Credit Union will also be available offering a legal alternative to people who may be tempted by unlicensed lenders. The Team have pledged to sponsor 20 new accounts opened on the day, with those who continue to save receiving a £20 bonus using the confiscated cash from loan sharks.

There will also be food and a face painter to make it a day for all the family. A special appearance will be made by ‘Sid’ the Illegal Money Lending Team’s mascot. 

Cllr Colin Lovell, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services and a Safer and Stronger Borough, said: “I would like to thank the Illegal Money Lending Team for making this money available to community groups in Swindon.

“It’s hugely positive to see groups coming forward to put this funding to good use, raising awareness of the issue of loan sharking, and benefiting  the local community”

Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team said “Illegal money lenders are a scourge on our communities, making life a misery for their victims. Through schemes such as ‘U choose’ we are able to use this money for something positive and help to prevent these criminals from operating in the future. We would welcome anyone to attend to have their say in how this money can be put to good use. We would always urge victims of illegal money lenders to seek help by contacting us in confidence on 0300 555 2222”

To report a loan shark:

Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222 
Text ‘loan shark + your message’ to 60003 
E-mail reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk 
Private message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject
Log-on to www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks

                                                        Ends 

Note to editors:

Funded by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, the Stop Loan Sharks Project consists of three Illegal money lending teams; England, Scotland and Wales. Working in partnership with local Trading Standards Authorities up and down the country, the England Team consists of specialist officers who investigate and prosecute illegal money lending and related activity and LIAISE officers who support victims and raise awareness of the dangers of borrowing from illegal money lenders. The project piloted in 2004, and expanded in 2007. So far the project has secured more than 200 prosecutions leading to custodial sentences in excess of 130 years.

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